CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 36: COLLECTOR’S AMBITION

"Which means that everything we thought we knew about the current balance of power in the martial world is about to become irrelevant. The alliance has been preparing for this war while we’ve been assuming that peace was the natural state of affairs."

Palace Master Danhye Yeoryeong’s words hung in the air like smoke from a funeral pyre, and Jinmu found himself nodding in agreement despite the grim implications of what she had said. The scope of the crisis they now faced was staggering, but something else was beginning to crystallize in his mind as he considered their current situation.

Three of the Five Great Sects’ heirs are still here at Mount Mugang. Juhwa Gyeongcheol from Hwagyeong Sword Sect, Seoryeon Baekho from Baekrin White Tiger Hall, and Eunwon Jinseong from Azure Thunder Hall. All of them represent martial traditions that I’ve never had the opportunity to study directly.

"We should establish a secure communication network immediately," Pavilion Master Hyeon Ryu was saying, his voice growing stronger as he continued to recover from the effects of the poison. "If the alliance is planning to strike within the month, every orthodox sect needs to understand what they’re facing."

Jinmu participated in the strategic discussion that followed, offering insights about the conspiracy’s structure and the capabilities they had observed during the recent fighting. But part of his attention remained focused on the unique opportunity that circumstances had presented.

The Heavenly Copy-Paste Technique had already allowed him to acquire the foundational arts of two of the Five Great Sects. From his interactions with Eun Haria and her mentors, he had gained access to the Yeonhwa Lotus Palace’s sophisticated combat philosophy. From the defeated members of the Twelve Blades, he had learned the systematic approach that defined the Mugang Martial Pavilion’s elite techniques.

But that still leaves three complete martial systems that I’ve never encountered. The fire-based cultivation of Hwagyeong Sword Sect, the body refinement methods of Baekrin White Tiger Hall, and the lightning techniques of Azure Thunder Hall. Each one represents centuries of refinement and development.

"The young masters who participated in the tournament," Yeoryeong was saying, "they should be recalled to their respective sects immediately for their own safety. If the alliance is targeting orthodox leadership, the heirs of major sects would be prime objectives."

"I agree," Hyeon Ryu replied. "We’ll provide them with escort details to ensure they reach their home territories safely. The last thing we need is for any of them to be captured or killed while they’re under our protection."

The mention of escorts and safe passage made Jinmu’s pulse quicken slightly. If the young masters were preparing to leave Mount Mugang immediately, his window of opportunity was closing rapidly. Once they returned to their respective sects, the chance to study their techniques directly would be lost indefinitely.

I need to approach this carefully. These aren’t enemies or conspirators that I can simply ambush and copy from. They’re legitimate heirs of allied sects, and any hostile action against them could destabilize the orthodox alliance just when unity is most crucial.

"How long before the escort arrangements can be finalized?" Jinmu asked, trying to keep his voice casual despite the urgency he felt.

One of Hyeon Ryu’s administrative assistants checked a scroll filled with logistical notes. "The security details can be assembled within six hours, but optimal timing would suggest departures at first light tomorrow. That provides maximum daylight for travel while avoiding the appearance of panic or rushed evacuation."

Six hours. Then dawn departures. That gave Jinmu perhaps twelve hours to devise and execute whatever plan he could develop for studying the three remaining sect techniques without compromising the political situation or endangering the young masters themselves.

"I should check on the current status of our other operations," Jinmu said, excusing himself from the strategic planning session. "There are still cleanup activities that require coordination."

Yeoryeong gave him a look that suggested she recognized his departure as something more than routine administration, but she simply nodded and returned her attention to the intelligence documents they had discovered.

She knows I’m planning something. Palace Masters don’t achieve their positions without developing exceptional instincts for reading people’s motivations. But she’s choosing not to interfere, which suggests either trust or curiosity about what I have in mind.

Jinmu made his way through the pavilion complex toward the guest quarters where the remaining tournament participants were being housed. The afternoon was wearing toward evening, and the normal bustle of activity had been replaced by the more subdued atmosphere of an organization dealing with recent trauma and uncertain future threats.

As he walked, he considered the challenge that each of the three young masters would represent. They weren’t just skilled martial artists, they were the designated successors to some of the most powerful and sophisticated combat traditions in the orthodox world. Each one would have been trained not just in techniques, but in the underlying principles that made their respective sects formidable.

Juhwa Gyeongcheol represents the Hwagyeong Sword Sect’s mastery of fire-based cultivation. Not just the ability to generate heat and flame, but the deeper understanding of how elemental fire interacts with human ki circulation. Their techniques supposedly allow practitioners to literally become living flames under certain conditions.

The implications of such abilities were staggering from both combat and cultivation perspectives. Fire-based martial arts required a fundamental restructuring of the practitioner’s internal energy pathways, creating the capacity to channel destructive heat without being consumed by it. The physiological adaptations alone would represent knowledge that could revolutionize his understanding of advanced cultivation methods.

Seoryeon Baekho from Baekrin White Tiger Hall focuses on body cultivation rather than external techniques. Their tradition emphasizes physical transformation that transcends normal human limitations. Bones like steel, muscles like springs, skin like armor. But more than that, they supposedly achieve integration between body and spirit that creates capabilities that seem almost supernatural.

Body cultivation was fundamentally different from the weapon-based or energy-based martial arts that Jinmu had primarily encountered. Instead of learning to manipulate external forces, practitioners transformed themselves into living weapons that could achieve effects through pure physical capability enhanced by spiritual refinement.

And Eunwon Jinseong represents Azure Thunder Hall’s lightning cultivation methods. The ability to harness and direct electrical energy, both internally and externally. Speed that approaches instantaneous movement, strikes that carry the power of natural lightning, defensive techniques that make the practitioner untouchable through constant electrical discharge.

Lightning cultivation was perhaps the most dangerous of all elemental martial arts, requiring practitioners to literally allow electrical current to flow through their bodies without causing permanent damage. The precision and control necessary to achieve such effects safely represented a level of internal mastery that few martial artists ever attempted.

Jinmu reached the guest quarters and immediately began extending his enhanced senses to locate the three young masters. They weren’t difficult to find, their distinctive ki signatures standing out clearly among the more conventional energy patterns of the other guests.

Juhwa Gyeongcheol was in the eastern courtyard, apparently practicing forms that filled the air around him with waves of heat that made the afternoon temperature feel like midsummer despite the approaching evening. Even at a distance, Jinmu could feel the intensity of the fire-based techniques being demonstrated.

He’s not just generating heat, he’s restructuring the local environment. The air itself is becoming a medium for his techniques, creating zones where normal physics begin to break down under the influence of elemental fire.

Seoryeon Baekho occupied a different courtyard entirely, his presence marked by the subtle but unmistakable signs of someone whose physical form had been transformed through years of intensive body cultivation. The ground around his practice area showed compression patterns that indicated he was significantly heavier than his appearance suggested, while his movements created air displacement effects that spoke of strength beyond normal human parameters.

Each step he takes compresses the earth beneath his feet. Each movement displaces air like he’s moving through water instead of atmosphere. His body has become something qualitatively different from normal human physiology.

Eunwon Jinseong was perhaps the most obvious of the three, his practice sessions generating electrical discharges that could be seen as well as felt. Lightning flickered around his position in patterns too controlled and purposeful to be natural phenomena, while the air itself seemed to vibrate with contained electrical energy.

He’s not just using lightning as a weapon. He’s becoming lightning. His ki circulation has been modified to accommodate electrical current as a fundamental component of his life force.

The challenge of studying all three without arousing suspicion or causing political complications required careful consideration. Direct approach would be impossible, since asking to observe their techniques would immediately raise questions about his motivations. Stealth observation might provide some insights, but the most advanced techniques would only be demonstrated under specific conditions that casual watching wouldn’t reveal.

I need situations that would naturally require them to demonstrate their full capabilities. Combat scenarios, perhaps, or challenges that would push them to use techniques they might normally keep in reserve.

As Jinmu considered various approaches, he became aware of voices coming from a pavilion near the central guest area. The tone and volume suggested a private conversation, but his enhanced hearing allowed him to distinguish individual words and speakers.

"The situation here has become completely unacceptable," someone was saying in the precise diction of educated nobility. "First the tournament corruption, then the fighting, now rumors about unorthodox alliance movements. Our sects sent us here for a prestigious competition, not to become involved in political conspiracies."

That’s Juhwa Gyeongcheol. Complaining about the recent events, which is understandable given how dramatically the tournament deviated from its original purpose.

"I agree," a second voice responded, this one carrying the slower cadence of someone accustomed to being listened to carefully. "The Hwagyeong Sword Sect has no interest in remaining at Mount Mugang while it deals with internal security issues. We should return home immediately."

Seoryeon Baekho. Also advocating for immediate departure. Which makes sense from a security standpoint, but would eliminate my opportunity to study their techniques.

"The question is whether we travel together or separately," a third voice interjected, this one with the quick, nervous energy that Jinmu associated with lightning-based cultivation methods. "Traveling together would provide additional security, but it would also create a single target if the unorthodox alliance is indeed planning aggressive actions."

Eunwon Jinseong. And they’re discussing departure plans, which means the timeline is even shorter than I had hoped.

Jinmu moved closer to the pavilion, using techniques from the acquired shadow arts to conceal his presence while improving his ability to overhear the conversation. The three young masters were seated around a low table, apparently sharing tea while discussing their plans for leaving Mount Mugang.

"My father sent additional instructions this afternoon," Juhwa Gyeongcheol was saying, producing a scroll from his inner robes. "The Hwagyeong Sword Sect is implementing emergency security protocols due to intelligence about potential unorthodox sect movements. All traveling members are to return immediately."

"Similar messages from the White Tiger Hall," Seoryeon Baekho confirmed, his massive frame making the pavilion furniture appear almost toy-like by comparison. "The elders are concerned that the tournament disruption was a prelude to something larger."

"Azure Thunder Hall as well," Eunwon Jinseong added, electrical energy flickering briefly around his fingertips as he spoke. "We’re to depart at first light with maximum security precautions."

First light. So they’re all leaving at dawn, probably in a coordinated departure that will maximize their mutual security while minimizing the time they spend vulnerable on the road.

"That gives us perhaps twelve hours to complete any remaining business here," Juhwa Gyeongcheol observed. "I suggest we finalize our travel arrangements and spend the evening in meditation to prepare for what may be a challenging journey."

The three young masters began discussing logistical details about their departure, including which routes they would take and what kind of escort arrangements the pavilion would provide. But Jinmu’s attention was focused on a different aspect of what he had overheard.

Twelve hours. They’re leaving at dawn, which means I have until then to find a way to study their techniques. But how can I create situations that would naturally require them to demonstrate their full capabilities without arousing suspicion or creating political complications?

The answer came to him gradually as he considered the resources at his disposal and the current security situation. The recent fighting had left the pavilion in a state of heightened alertness, with guards and patrols maintaining vigilance against potential threats. If additional security concerns were to arise during the night, it would be natural for the young masters to participate in addressing them.

I can create scenarios that appear to be legitimate security threats. Situations that would require the young masters to use their techniques in what appears to be defense of the pavilion. My copies can play the role of mysterious attackers, forcing defensive responses that would allow me to observe and copy the techniques being used.

The plan would require careful coordination and precise timing. The scenarios would need to appear genuine enough to justify the young masters’ full participation, but not so dangerous as to cause actual harm or create lasting political complications. Each confrontation would need to be tailored to the specific capabilities and personality of its target.

For Juhwa Gyeongcheol, a fire-based threat that would naturally call for fire-based countermeasures. For Seoryeon Baekho, a situation requiring overwhelming physical force. For Eunwon Jinseong, circumstances that would benefit from lightning-fast responses and electrical techniques.

As the evening deepened and the three young masters concluded their planning session, Jinmu began to withdraw from his observation position. He had learned what he needed to know about their departure timeline, and now he needed to begin implementing the complex deception that would give him access to their martial knowledge.

Three separate scenarios, perfectly coordinated to appear unconnected while providing comprehensive exposure to each sect’s advanced techniques. The young masters will think they’re defending against random threats, but actually they’ll be demonstrating everything I need to complete my collection of the Five Great Sects’ martial arts.

He was preparing to return to his quarters to begin detailed planning when one final exchange between the young masters caught his attention.

"Do you think the masked participant will be traveling with any of our groups?" Eunwon Jinseong asked, referring to the mysterious identity that Jinmu had maintained throughout the tournament. "His capabilities would certainly be valuable for additional security."

"I doubt it," Juhwa Gyeongcheol replied dismissively. "People like that prefer to operate independently. He’ll probably disappear as mysteriously as he appeared, leaving the rest of us to deal with the consequences of recent events."

If only they knew. But their assumptions about my intentions and capabilities work in my favor. The less they expect from the mysterious masked participant, the less likely they are to anticipate what’s actually going to happen during their last night at Mount Mugang.

As the three young masters prepared to retire for the evening, Jinmu melted back into the shadows to begin the most ambitious copying operation he had ever attempted. By dawn, if everything went according to plan, he would possess the foundational techniques of all Five Great Sects.

But first, I need to create situations convincing enough to fool three of the most talented young martial artists in the orthodox world. This is going to require every bit of cunning and creativity I can muster.

The night was still young, but already Jinmu could feel the pressure of time beginning to compress around his plans. Dawn would come whether he was ready or not, and with it, the departure of the three young masters whose techniques represented the completion of his collection.

No room for error. No second chances. By tomorrow morning, either I’ll have succeeded in copying the martial arts of all Five Great Sects, or I’ll have lost the opportunity forever.

He reached his quarters and immediately began creating the copies that would make the night’s operations possible. Twenty duplicates, perhaps more, each one assigned specific roles in the elaborate deception that would unfold over the next several hours.

Time to begin the most complex performance of my life. Three simultaneous operations, each one designed to appear as a legitimate security threat while actually being a carefully orchestrated intelligence gathering exercise.

The copies materialized around him with their usual silent efficiency, each one immediately understanding its role in the plan that was taking shape in their shared consciousness. Within minutes, they had dispersed throughout the pavilion complex to begin positioning themselves for the scenarios that would soon unfold.

Juhwa Gyeongcheol will face what appears to be arsonists threatening the pavilion’s ancient libraries. Seoryeon Baekho will encounter intruders who can only be stopped through overwhelming physical force. Eunwon Jinseong will be confronted with attackers whose speed requires lightning-fast responses.

As the final preparations fell into place, Jinmu allowed himself a moment of anticipation. The Heavenly Copy-Paste Technique was about to achieve something unprecedented in the history of martial arts, the complete acquisition of all Five Great Sects’ foundational techniques by a single practitioner.

By dawn, everything changes. Not just for me, but potentially for the entire balance of power in the martial world. The question is whether I’ll be wise enough to use such comprehensive knowledge responsibly.

But those were concerns for later. Right now, he had three young masters to deceive and three martial traditions to acquire. The night held promises and dangers in equal measure, and time was running out faster than he had anticipated.

From somewhere in the distance, he heard Juhwa Gyeongcheol’s voice carrying clearly through the evening air. "We should get some rest. Dawn comes early, and the journey home won’t be a comfortable one."